Turnip

n. [Sometimes written also turnep.] [O. Eng. turnep, Corn. turnupan, Ir. turnapa, perhaps from W. turn, round, and meipen, maip, a turnip, Ir. & Gael. neip, A-S. nīpe, Lat. rapus.] (Bot.) A cruciferous plant of the genus Brassica (B. rapa), much cultivated on account of its solid, bulbous root, which is usually in the form of a flattened sphere, or a short, much compressed cone, and is valued as an article of food.

Swedish turnip, the ruta-baga; Brassica campestris. — Turnip-fly (Entom.), a small beetle of the genus Haltica (H. nemorum), which is very destructive to the turnip. Baird.